Aberdeen City Council recommended for approval two plans that will see 14 flats and a new dental surgery built across the city.

The first application is to convert an Aberdeen church into flats. Torry Church is a prominent granite building on Victoria Road.

The council has received an application seeking full planning permission for a change of use for the kirk to create 14 one, two, and three-bed flats. The steps leading up to the front of the building would be retained, and the stained glass windows on the main part of the front of building would be kept. The windows on the tower would be replaced with new timber-framed clear glass windows.

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The tower will be brought into use by creating a dining room for three of the flats. The existing stairs and door openings on the east side of the kirk would be removed and blocked up with material which matches the rest of the building.

Dr Maggie Bochel, head of planning and infrastructure, said: "It is considered that bringing this building back into use, especially into residential use, is more important in this instance than ensuring the necessary off-street car parking provision, otherwise this prominent granite building may fall into disuse and disrepair."

An application has also been recommended for approval to transform a West End guesthouse into a dental surgery. The traditional granite mid-terraced building, Arjon Guesthouse, on Great Western Road, is in a conservation area.

The applicant seeks full planning permission for a change of use of the guesthouse to a dental surgery with five practice rooms over three floors. The proposed reception and waiting room are to be in the existing single storey rear extension.

Dr Bochel states: "The proposal does not represent an erosion of the residential character of the area as the building is in guesthouse use at present. A precedent has been set already for changes of use of properties on Great Western Road."

(GK/JM)